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Re: Simple fly patterns

Originally Posted by MAD777

I'm a huge fan of David McPhail on you-tube. His voice and manner is so soothing, that I watch his videos when I come home from work all stressed out. I not even watching to learn the fly, he just relaxes me! Lol

Mike

He really can put me to sleep! The guy is a brilliant tyer, but he's just too slow for me and all that Scottish mumbling...buhhhhh.

But I do still watch him because he is so good. But I do not think he is the best tutorial for beginners, he rarely ties simple flies yet he makes very complex patterns appear very simple! For the rest of us it is frustration.

Re: Simple fly patterns

Mr Bigjim mentioned Charlie Craven - you can't beat his website for step by step instructions (and excellent photos) on tying all kinds of patterns, from simple to complicated. Go to charliesflyboxinc.com, go to the menu box on the right side of the home page and click on "Flybox." You should see many pages of fly patterns. When you see one you want to tie click on it and you'll get all the instructions. If you click on the "Printable version" printer icon, you'll get step by step, with pictures of each step. Awesome resource.

Re: Simple fly patterns

They are as simple as a fly gets, and are effective on bass, trout, and panfish. You can make them in endless color combinations, weight it or not, and the materials won't break the bank.

Bingo.

A few other old, very simple patterns include the wingless Grey (i. e., grizzly) Hackle Peacock, Grey Hackle Yellow, Brown Hackle Peacock, and Partridge & Hares Ear. You could tie the peacock and hare's ear bodies with a gold tinsel rib or not, as you wish.

Tie them with hen or partridge hackle and they make great wet flies or nymphs. Tie them with stiff cock hackle (substituting grizzly for the partridge) and stiff tail material and they make great dry flies. Fashions in fly popularity have come and gone over the years, but these old easy-to-tie classics are still as deadly as ever.

Re: Simple fly patterns

I have recently started tying and fishing these and the fish are hammering them. The only reason why I tied it is I had the material and it was easy. I wrap the hook in lead free wire first, then wrap the peacock and finally put a little marabou on the head and done. I have had most success with swinging them and sometimes adding in short strips to the swing. This is an easy fly to tie that will catch you fish just like the wooly bugger and when a bugger won't work this fly is worth a try. Swing away!

Re: Simple fly patterns

Originally Posted by MAD777

I'm a huge fan of David McPhail on you-tube. His voice and manner is so soothing, that I watch his videos when I come home from work all stressed out. I not even watching to learn the fly, he just relaxes me! Lol

Mike

I completely agree. His voice is just soothing.

"We are all puppets, Laurie. I'm just the puppet who can see the strings." -Doctor Manhattan